No relief for Butt, Aamer
Dubai, October 31
The ICC code of conduct commissioner Michael Beloff today dismissed the appeals of Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamer against their suspensions for alleged spot-fixing.
The world governing body of the game had suspended the three Pakistani cricketers, including Mohammed Asif, last month when a British tabloid claimed that they were involved in spot-fixing.

The LOOK SAYS IT ALL: Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt leaves the International Cricket Council
(ICC) headquarters in Dubai on Sunday. Butt and Mohammad Aamer had their provisional suspensions over allegations of spot-fixing upheld by the International Cricket Council. — Reuters

I hope I can be that outstanding opening batsman, but that's the way to win out here. You need all 11 to be performing and standing up at the right time. — Andrew Strauss

On This DayIn 1974, Hyderabad and India's cricket player
V V S Laxman was born.

Patiala win rural sports meet
Ferozepur, October 31
Patiala bagged the honours as they won the overall trophy by pocketing 20 points on the last day of the Punjab State Rural Games for Boys (Under -16) held here at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium, which concluded today. Ludhiana remained the runners up by getting 19 points whereas Amritsar were adjudged third as they got 18 points in these games. Janmeja Singh Shekhon, Irrigation Minister, who was the chief guest for the valedictory ceremony gave away prizes to the winners.

PSB, PNB win
Ludhiana, October 31
Continuing with their winning spree, Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB), Jalandhar and Punjab National Bank (PNB), Delhi registered their second consecutive victory in the senior men's section while Jarkhar Academy scripted an easy win in the junior boy's section in the 7th edition of the All India Guru Gobind Singh Gold Cup Hockey Tournament being organisd by the Ludhiana Sports Welfare Association at the Prithipal Singh AstroTurf Stadium at Punjab Agricultural University campus here today.

Ronaldo seals Madrid comeback
Madrid, October 31
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the last eight minutes for Spanish leader Real Madrid to rally for a 3-1 win over Hercules. Hercules went ahead early through a David Trezeguet header before Angel Di Maria volleyed past goalkeeper Juan Calatayud for a 53rd-minute equalizer yesterday.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (L) vies with Hercules' David Cortes during their Spanish League match in Alicante on Saturday. — AFP

Nani wins it for United
London, October 31
A hotly contested goal from Nani helped Manchester United beat Tottenham 2-0 and stay within five points of Chelsea after the English Premier League leaders fought back to beat Blackburn 2-1. Arsenal is also five points adrift of champion Chelsea after Alex Song's 88th-minute header clinched a 1-0 victory over bottom-placed West Ham yesterday.

Dubai, October 31
The ICC code of conduct commissioner Michael Beloff today dismissed the appeals of Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamer against their suspensions for alleged spot-fixing.
The world governing body of the game had suspended the three Pakistani cricketers, including Mohammed Asif, last month when a British tabloid claimed that they were involved in spot-fixing.

Fast bowler Asif had also challenged the suspension along with Test captain Butt and the 18-year-old Aamer, but had later withdrawn his appeal.

"Having considered every aspect of the case I dismiss their appeals and they remain suspended," Beloff told reporters outside the ICC headquarters here.

The rejection of appeals means that all three cricketers will have to appear before a ICC code of conduct commission to pursue their case.

"The players have denied the charges, but they will remain suspended before a code of conduct commission is formed to hear the case," Beloff sad. The International Cricket Council said in a statement that Asif's suspension will also continue.

"After considering all the evidence Mr Beloff has rejected both challenges. As such, the players remain provisionally suspended from all cricket pending the outcome of the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal which will hear their disciplinary cases in due course. "As he chose not to challenge his provisional suspension, a third player – Mohammad Asif – also remains provisionally suspended," the statement read. Beloff chose not to speak if the Pakistani cricketers were guilty.

"It was not up to me to decide whether they committed any crime, the commission will establish their guilt and if they are found guilty then they will be given punishment as per the ICC code of conduct," he said.

The two cricketers were accompanied by their lawyers — Butt by Khalid R Anjha, a former Law Minister, and former Pakistan player Aftab Gul, while Aamir was with Shahid Karim. British tabloid 'News of the World' had shook the cricket world with a sting operation which had suspected bookmaker Mazhar Majeed claiming that he paid bribes to three cricketers for sending down no-balls during the Lord's Test against England in late August.

Scotland Yard is also carrying out a separate investigation into the case and has spoken to the three players and Majeed.

After the Test series, the third One-dayer at the Oval also came under suspicion but the ICC later cleared the match of any wrongdoing. Pakistan Cricket Board had backed the players calling the entire episode a conspiracy. PCB chief Ijaz Butt had in fact created a flutter by saying that it was British players who took money to throw the Oval ODI.

He though had to withdraw his comments after being threatened with legal action by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Its a farce: Qadir

Karachi: Former Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, has called for the International Cricket Council to deal evenly with its member boards as he felt that the parent body was being biased towards PCB.

The former chief selector was reacting to the announcement by Micheal Beloff who heads the ICC code of conduct commission that the provisional suspensions on Pakistani cricketers, Salman Butt, Muhammad Aamir and Muhammad Asif would remain until a full hearing by an independent tribunal.

Butt and Aamir appeared before Beloff with their lawyers in Dubai on Saturday and Sunday for their appeals hearing which were rejected. Asif had earlier withdrawn his appeal against the suspensions imposed by the ICC. Qadir said he was surprised by the ICC tribunal decision to not allow the players to resume their cricket career. "It is total farce. If the ICC wasn't interested in revoking the suspensions, why go through this farce at all?" he questioned.

Qadir lashed out at the ICC for its double standards pointing out that Indian batsman, Suresh Raina was also suspected of having links with a woman who was working for a bookmaker during the tour to Sri Lanka.
— PTI

Ferozepur, October 31
Patiala bagged the honours as they won the overall trophy by pocketing 20 points on the last day of the Punjab State Rural Games for Boys (Under -16) held here at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium, which concluded today. Ludhiana remained the runners up by getting 19 points whereas Amritsar were adjudged third as they got 18 points in these games. Janmeja Singh Shekhon, Irrigation Minister, who was the chief guest for the valedictory ceremony gave away prizes to the winners.

Earlier, Harpal Singh Kanwar, deputy director sports, Patiala division accorded a welcome to the minister and other distinguished guests whereas S.L Lotey, assistant director, sports, presented the vote of thanks. He told that the selected players from this tournament shall participate in the National Rural Sports Games and they shall also be trained in the different camps for training for the national event.

The final hockey match between Sangrur and Ferozepur was a one sided affair as the hosts crashed out its rival by 6-1. Gurdev Singh, Sonu Gupta and Love Kumar scored two goals each for the host team. Moga outplayed Faridkot by 4-1 for the third place. In Badminton, Nawanshahar clinched gold by defeating Patiala comfortably in two straight sets whereas Ludhiana and Ferozepur got bronze medal jointly.

In Kho Kho event, Sangrur clinched gold by defeating Mansa by 4 points whereas Jalandhar defeated Ludhiana just by one point in the bronze medal match.

In 100 m finals, Bikram Banni of Gurdaspur became the fastest runner of the games, as he won the race with timings of 11.46 seconds. Harmanpreet Singh of Tarn Taran won silver with timings of 11.74 and Narinder Singh of Fatehgarh Sahib got bronze clocking 11.75 sec. Students from various schools presented a cultural program on the occasion.

Ludhiana, October 31
Continuing with their winning spree, Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB), Jalandhar and Punjab National Bank (PNB), Delhi registered their second consecutive victory in the senior men's section while Jarkhar Academy scripted an easy win in the junior boy's section in the 7th edition of the All India Guru Gobind Singh Gold Cup Hockey Tournament being organisd by the Ludhiana Sports Welfare Association at the Prithipal Singh AstroTurf Stadium at Punjab Agricultural University campus here today.

PNB, Delhi scripted a comfortable 4-0 victory over Punjab Police, Jalandhar. They went into an early lead when Damandeep Singh opened the account in the very second minute. Bruno struck in the 11th minute while Jatinder Saroya found the target nine minutes later to consolidate the lead (3-0). Damandeep added another goal in the 50th minute which sealed Jalandhar outfit's fate 4-0.

In another match, PSB, Jalandhar defeated Border Hawks, Amritsar 4-1. The bankmen surged ahead in the third minute as Ranjodh Singh converted a penalty corner while Bikramjeet Singh pumped in two goals (16th and 22nd minutes) to increase the lead (3-0). Daler Singh scored a fine field goal in the 58th minute to read it 4-0. The lone goal for the losers came in the 63rd minute off Ajay Kumar's stick.

In the third match, Army XI, Delhi beat Rail Coach Facory, Kapurthala 3-0. SR Mangam scored a brace while Jairam Khajul chipped in with one goal. In an absorbing encounter, South Central Railway (SCR), Secundrabad overcame stiff resistence from Indian Air Force (IAF), Delhi before romping home victors 4-2. In the junior section, the match played between Jarkhar Academy and Sudhar Academy turned out to be a one-sided affair in which the former came out triumphant 5-1.

Madrid, October 31
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the last eight minutes for Spanish leader Real Madrid to rally for a 3-1 win over Hercules. Hercules went ahead early through a David Trezeguet header before Angel Di Maria volleyed past goalkeeper Juan Calatayud for a 53rd-minute equalizer yesterday.

Ronaldo latched onto a Karim Benzema rebound to put Madrid ahead at Jose Rico Perez Stadium before adding his league-leading 12th goal of the season four minutes later after converting substitute Benzema's 86th-minute pass. The Portugal forward nearly had a hat trick, but shot high in the closing stages.

Madrid is top of the table with 23 points, while Villarreal and Barcelona - which plays Sevilla later - are tied on 19 points. Earlier, Valencia was held to 1-1 at home against 10-man Zaragoza to go to 17 points. Hercules came out more aggressively in the first half when Calatayud made clutch stops as Madrid pressed for an answer to Trezeguet's opener.

The French striker tallied his fifth goal of the season off a long cross from David Cortes to put Real Madrid behind for the first time this season. Calatayud made consecutive saves in the 23rd - first blocking a hard strike from deep by Ronaldo and then extending his right foot to deflect a rebounded shot by Gonzalo Higuain.

Trezeguet tested keeper Iker Casillas three minutes later, firing in a low header from Oliver Thombert. The visitors then began to control the tempo and the scoring opportunities as Xabi Alonso half-volleyed a clean shot high on the half-hour mark and Ronaldo had another try cleared by Cortes shortly after.

But Hercules did not pull back even with the lead, and in the 42nd Thombert missed getting off a clean shot after a nice combination. While Hercules was the better side in the first half, Madrid took control after the break. The absence of Royston Drenthe - who helped it to a pair of wins over Barcelona and Sevilla - was noted, however, as Hercules lost some of its spark. The Dutch winger could not play because he is on loan from Madrid.
AP

London, October 31
A hotly contested goal from Nani helped Manchester United beat Tottenham 2-0 and stay within five points of Chelsea after the English Premier League leaders fought back to beat Blackburn 2-1. Arsenal is also five points adrift of champion Chelsea after Alex Song's 88th-minute header clinched a 1-0 victory over bottom-placed West Ham yesterday.

Manchester City, though, is three points further behind after relegation-threatened Wolverhampton inflicted the second straight loss on the league's biggest spenders. — AP

BRIEFLY

Gibbs’ tell-all book on SA cricket
Johannesburg: Stories about sexual orgies, marijuana sessions and the dominance of a group of senior players in South Africa cricket squad have been exposed in out of favour opener Herschelle Gibbs' autobiography, which is releasing on Monday. The weekly 'Sunday Times' carried excerpts from Gibbs' book, a day before its release. The book graphically details the sexual exploits of the controversial player who has been in trouble for his late night binges and drunken driving charges, as well as leading players in smoking pot in the West Indies.
— PTI

Atwal ends tied 26th
Kuala Lumpur: Indian golfer Arjun Atwal returned an erratic two-under 69 in the final round to rise a rung and sign off tied 26th in the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic here on Sunday. Atwal ended his campaign with a total of seven-under 277 in the Asian and PGA Tour co-sanctioned event. The Orlando-based player started well with a birdie on the second hole but stumbled soon after by dropping a double bogey on the fourth.
— PTI

Cook backs Pietersen to fire
Perth: New England vice captain Alastair Cook believes the challenge of retaining the Ashes is the perfect stage for mercurial batsman Kevin Pietersen to bounce back to his best form. Pietersen boasts an imposing record against Australia, averaging 50.72 in Ashes Tests, ahead of his 47.80 career record, and his average of 54.44 in Australia is even more impressive.
— AFP

Contrasting positions for Indians
Sotogrande: The Indian trio of Jeev Milkha Singh, SSP Chowrasia and Jyoti Randhawa turned in identical one-over 72s but held contrasting positions on the leaderboard after the third round of the Andalucia Valderrama Masters golf tournament here. Jeev was the highest-placed at tied seventh with even-par 213 after managing a couple of birdies against three bogeys in the penultimate round at the Club de Golf Valderrama.
— PTI

Don't overschedule T20: ACA
Melbourne: Allowing private investment in Australia's domestic Twenty20 league is fine but the country's Cricketers Association (ACA) has warned against overscheduling of the games as it might just end up "killing the golden goose". ACA chief executive Paul Marsh has said that while the decision to allow private investment, including from India, is a step in the right direction, more money should not mean more matches.
— PTI

'Problem with cricket admin'
Melbourne: Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who missed out on becoming the ICC President after being refused support by the Asian bloc and Zimbabwe, feels there is a "problem with the administration of cricket" in parts of the Indian subcontinent and the African nation. "I think there is a problem with the administration of cricket in some parts of the cricketing world," Howard was quoted as saying by 'The Sydney Morning Herald'.
— PTI

T20 easiest to corrupt: Chappell
Melbourne: Cricket Australia should be mindful that Twenty20 is the "easiest form of the game to corrupt" when it accepts private investment, including from India, in the country's domestic Twenty20 league from next year, feels former captain Ian Chappell. Cricket Australia has given the go ahead for private investment in its Twenty20 Big Bash from next year and Chappell says CA should firmly be in control of the money flowing in to keep corruption at bay.
— PTI